00:01WBC heating up at this point, teams moving on, and also Team USA going to play tonight at 8 p
00:06.m. against Mexico.
00:07A lot of good stuff to talk about. Donnie Wrightside and Joe Ranieri right here on the early line on
00:11a Monday on the Sports Grid Network.
00:14How about Team Japan? Stays undefeated and moving on. They officially have won Pool C.
00:19Joe was pretty impressive that a 4-1 lead in the ninth inning against Australia.
00:22A couple solo home runs yesterday made that game close, but Japan wins. They're 3-0. They're moving on up.
00:29As well, they should. Not a big shocker there, as we thought for sure.
00:35That was the value, really, heading into this tournament. We knew Team USA was stacked, but it felt like Japan
00:42was being a little bit disrespected here with the team that they have.
00:47Moving on, shall we say. Ultimately, I think, Donnie, when it's all said and done,
00:52the three favorites there that we had it before this, you know, World Baseball Classic started are ultimately going to
00:59be the ones that decide who wins this thing.
01:02By the way, Korea right now up 4-0 on Australia right now, so we got games all day long.
01:07Once again, two couple games at 12 o'clock, 1 o'clock to keep an eye on here.
01:10But the big boys, as we say, Team USA, they're going to play a little bit later today.
01:14By the way, if you're watching Team USA and see those final scores, 15-5, 9-1.
01:18Yes, they are blowout victories, but that game against Great Britain was interesting.
01:22That was 1-0 Great Britain after one pitch into that baseball game, and it wasn't as if, Joe,
01:27well, yeah, USA scored five in the bottom of the first once they got up, and away they went.
01:30They didn't score until the fifth inning, and the place really erupted with a Schwerbomb to start this one off
01:37deep into the night into right field, almost at the scoreboard in the second deck.
01:42Schwerber got the boys going here for an easy win for Team USA.
01:45Yeah, it took a little while, though, to get going in that game.
01:49I mean, give Great Britain credit.
01:51Great defense.
01:53I believe there was just an unbelievable home run snag, yeah, that Thompson there went over
02:00the wall and robbed a home run.
02:02So, yeah, it was good, but ultimately just too much talent, too much power, and you saw
02:07ultimately what happens as the game went on there.
02:11Team USA eventually just ran away with it.
02:13By the way, you take a look at some of this fun stuff here, and as we get to it,
02:17like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting the dumbbell made of plantains after a home run for the Dominican
02:22Republic, Joe, on the field and in the stands.
02:26This team's going to be a problem and a lot of fun to watch.
02:30They are always a lot of fun to watch, right, Donnie?
02:33We kind of knew that.
02:35I mean, any time you get, what, Juan Soto walking off in a mercy rule game, it's pretty fun.
02:41And they don't mind celebrating and having a good time while doing it, Donnie, which,
02:45again, is going to rub some of the old-timers the wrong way.
02:48But the reality is, this is a good baseball team with a ton of power.
02:52So, ultimately, again, I think we know who the three favorites should be here when it's
02:58all said and done.
03:00Now, how about this one?
03:01We talked about this a little bit, Joe, to open the show, and I always thought it was
03:04interesting.
03:04And you know you're going to get some flack when you initially hear some of these thoughts,
03:07but sometimes these players reconsider, not because of public peer pressure support,
03:11which might be a little bit there, but once you get around the fellas and realize how
03:16much fun you're having and you could be a key ingredient to winning a World Baseball
03:20Classic, we're talking about Tarek Skubal, who, when we first heard, like, yeah, I'm going
03:24to throw against Great Britain.
03:25We're going to be minus 3,000 favorites.
03:28I'll give you about three innings.
03:29I'm jumping on a plane, getting back to spring training.
03:31That changed almost immediately.
03:33He pitched in that baseball game, was interviewed, I believe, in the dugout, and it's like, you
03:36know what?
03:37I'm going to have to rethink this thing, man.
03:39Like, we got something that we can do that's going to be pretty big time here, and I think
03:41I might want to stick around and help out.
03:43Love to see it off Skubal.
03:45I think it's the right thing to do, and he's feeling that emotion, and he's probably going
03:47to stick around now, Joe.
03:49Yeah, I don't blame him, Donnie.
03:51I mean, who wants to go and hang out with, you know, a bunch of AA and AAA dudes?
03:56Like, just hang out, man.
03:57Get your reps in.
03:59You're good to go there with Team USA, and ultimately, I mean, I think you see the level
04:03of competition.
04:04You're going to get everyone's best shot here, so kudos for him and the change of mind, shall
04:10we say.
04:12Paul Skeen's on the mound tonight, 8 p.m., and by the way, USA has lost to Mexico three
04:17straight times, dating back in the World Baseball Classic, to 2006.
04:21I think Skeen's might have something to do with a victory tonight, Joe.
04:24What do you think?
04:26Well, I think he's, shall we say, pumped up, to say the least, here for this game.
04:32But I think Team USA is, Donnie.
04:33Like you said, they have not been able to break through against Mexico in this competition,
04:38this international play.
04:41And neither of these two teams like each other a whole bunch, so this should be a good one
04:46here with Skeen's going at least three innings, right?
04:49I mean, that's what we can expect.
04:51Yeah, these starting pitchers can pitch a little bit more once you get into the knockout stages
04:54here.
04:54They elevate some of those pitching numbers.
04:56But if we are looking at the lines on this game, like a football game, Joe, U.S., minus
05:00three and a half at a minus 115 price.
05:02The total in this game, listed at 11 and a half, if you just want to use USA, Joe, as
05:06a parlay piece, minus 530.
05:08Don't need a slow start tonight.
05:10Get that lead early, Joe.
05:11Cruz, how about that one?
05:12Mm-hmm.
05:13Yeah, be nice to see.
05:14Let's get out in front.
05:15Play from in front.
05:16Let me ask you a question here, if we flip it over from hockey to the WBC tonight, Mexico
05:21taking on the U.S.
05:23Now that we have those official run lines out, minus three and a half, Tom, for them, and
05:26also minus 520 favorite on the money line, but a total of 11 and a half.
05:31Skeen's on the mound tonight.
05:32Mexico, as you pointed out when we talked yesterday, crushed their opponent yesterday, putting
05:36all those chips on the table.
05:37How does it play out tonight for Mexico against the U.S.?
05:40I think they give up some runs today.
05:42Actually, I was looking at the pitcher before, Manny Bereta, who was going to be pitching
05:45for Mexico.
05:46He's been in the minor leagues since 2007.
05:49He finally made his MLB debut last year.
05:54So he's in the minors from 2007 to 2024.
05:58He pitched 2.1 innings for the Orioles last season.
06:00He's not good.
06:01He's 37.
06:02I think the U.S.A. puts up some runs.
06:05I'm not sure if they're going to cover the run line, but winning the game 8-5, that's what
06:10I see happening.
06:11He's Tom Vecchio here, catching around the channels all the time and always a good friend
06:14here of the early line on the Sports Grid Network.
06:17For Donnie, right side Joe, we'll be back.
06:19Tommy, see you soon, buddy.
06:20We'll be right back after this break.
06:22But also, big news tonight.
06:23Paul Skeen's going to take the mound in the WBC, heavily favored Team USA against Mexico,
06:28who actually haven't beat Mexico since the 2006 WBC, which is kind of interesting to
06:33read that.
06:34But at the same time, Mexico had an all-in game yesterday and easily won throwing Taiwan
06:38Walker.
06:39They weren't saving their best for the U.S.
06:41And as you see that money line number, minus 530 here, the run line minus 3.5 and a total
06:45of 11.5.
06:46How are we previewing that game tonight from your angle here with Skeen's on the mound
06:49for Team USA?
06:51Well, we will be previewing it every in which way.
06:54There is no one who is betting more WBC than my co-host, Gabriel Morenci.
06:59He has every game covered.
07:00I wouldn't be entirely stunned if he was up right now, involved with a little Australia-Korea
07:06action here, and certainly will find his way to the window with either the DR in Israel
07:11or perhaps even Great Britain and Brazil.
07:14For the U.S.-Mexico tonight, it is interesting because it's the top spot within this pool that
07:20is up for grabs.
07:22But I got to tell you guys, I've tried.
07:24I've tried.
07:25I don't find myself having a good grasp of how this bracket actually works.
07:31I don't know how valuable that top spot is.
07:35We think it matters.
07:37I'm not 100% certain of that here.
07:40I am 100% certain, though, that both teams will want this game, right?
07:44They've looked.
07:45It's very interesting because the U.S. has won 15-5 and 9-1, and I think it's fair to
07:50say they've been underwhelming to start this tournament.
07:53So perhaps this is a step-up spot for them.
07:56But there's nothing cheap about any number that you find in a USA World Baseball Classic game.
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